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In John 5:1-18 we are told the story of Jesus healing the invalid beside the pool of Bethesda. After healing the man, Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”
In Luke 5:17-39 is another miracle of Jesus. It is the story of friends bringing their paralyzed friend to Jesus by lowering him down through the roof. The first words of Jesus to him were: “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” His first need and ours is to receive forgiveness of sin.
That upset the Pharisees and teachers of the law. This is Jesus’ response: “Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” He told the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat, and go home.”
In both stories, Jesus tells the man (and us) to take up your mat. They were not coming back because they had been healed. The same thing is true for us when we receive Jesus as our Savior. The greatest miracle is the forgiveness of our sin.
What things should we carry on our mat?